The former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joi Nunieh has identified factors inhibiting the development and growth of the Niger Delta Region.
Nunieh who spoke through Zoom before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, mentioned the inauguration of the Interim Management Committee to oversee the commission, staffers who sponsor projects for their communities and pressure mounted by communities where members of the management team or board come from to empower them as factors inhibiting the development of the region.
According to her, the inauguration of the IMC was a drawback to the development of the region due to alleged corruption, NDDC’s staffers cornering projects of the commission to their localities and pressure mounted by communities on the board members to use the opportunity to empower them, thereby helping to impede the development of the region.
“The NDDC staffers always mount pressure for siting of projects in their communities while the people from communities of the board members see the appointment of their kinsmen as an opportunity for them to pillage funds of the commission to benefit them,” the former NDDC’s boss.
On the payment of N1.5 billion palliatives to staffers of NDDC, Nunieh dispelled the rumour that she did not pay such despite the pressure mounted on her to the staffers.
Debunking allegations of fraud and attempts to filibuster the Commission, Nunieh said she did not touch funds meant for the Niger Delta People.
The House of Representatives is carrying out an investigation into alleged mismanagement of funds by the current interim management committee (IMC) of the NDDC.
According to allegations, the interim management of the NDDC has mishandled about N40 billion.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, to appear and make presentations before it on Monday, July 20, 2020.
The committee also summoned the Managing Director of the NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei to appear before it on the same day.
This comes after the former MD of the NDDC, Joy Nunieh, on Friday gave her testimony at the House Committee on Public Hearing via zoom.
Ms. Nunieh was billed to appear before the committee on Thursday but her house was besieged by some security agents, hindering her from making a physical appearance.
Speaking at the hearing, Ms. Nunieh told the lawmakers that the siege on her residence was an attempt to prevent her from testifying before the panel.
